[December 27, 2013]Hundreds of volunteers in
groups, plus innumerable unnamed individuals serving with passion —
that is what gives a community soul. Logan County citizens went
above and beyond in service to others in 2013.
Local organizations, agencies, groups and churches coordinated
spotlight events attracting thousands of visitors to our
communities, as well as providing entertainment for residents.
Numerous individuals and groups also worked diligently to support
the hungry or displaced people, or to ease the process of child
adoption, and to improve family reunification experiences.
It takes many hands working together to build a home for a
family, and Habitat for Humanity does just that.
It took months of planning, but in just a couple of days,
Together for Lincoln workers provided just a little help to many
homeowners needing to weatherproof or do some fixing up on their
homes. Some volunteers also have been building ramps year-round for
those experiencing unforeseen circumstances.
It takes a lot of commitment and diligent efforts to save animals
that would make good pets, to take over daily care, then to find all
those animals homes. There is also the financial cost in that
endeavor, and the Humane Society of Logan County volunteers do it
all.
Other people in the community volunteer their time in other
measures that improve quality of life here in the place we call
home: Logan County.
Over the year, celebrations brought people together for
much-needed and appreciated time for leisure, support and fun. These
events ranged from ice cream socials to festivals to fundraisers,
with food galore, entertainment, games and auctions.
We'll take a chronological walk through the year:
Here in Logan County there is one big birthday that is celebrated
each and every year. If you go to one of these parties, you will
most likely find a white cake with almonds, called Mary Todd cake.
Do you know whose birthday it is?
This year it was Abraham Lincoln's 204th birthday. You can go to
the archives of Feb.11 and 12 to see more front-page pictures and
information, or review the links below:
As the year moved along, about six weeks later, spring began
making promises. In the fullness of time — in other words, when the
ground warmed sufficiently – block-sized expanses of bluebells
turned the hillsides in Elkhart blue. This extraordinary sight
brings visitors from far and wide to experience its beauty and to
shake off winter with fresh outdoor activity.
This year, Elkhart gained national attention for its spring
celebration on the hill with a spread in Midwest Living magazine.
Activities included the annual wildflower and nature walks, bird
watches, special shop sales and farmers market.
To the southeast edge of the county, one of Latham's big events
is its ice cream social in mid-July. The social draws people from
the community and all the surrounding areas. Funds raised benefit
other community activities during the year, as well as help support
the volunteer fire department. Latham is a mutual-aid department and
was one of those that came and helped control the Oasis blaze, which
probably helped save a block of historic buildings in downtown
Lincoln in June.
The morning and evening late-August skies over the Logan County
Airport bloom in wild colors one weekend each year. And, there is
the phenomenal glow of balloons en masse lighting the nights during
the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival.
Downtown was abuzz with the Lincoln Art Festival in Latham Park,
crafts and flea market in Scully Park, and Art of Wine and Brew, and
the Kansas City Barbeque Society contests and barbecue vendors
sandwiched on the streets between. At Postville Courthouse, there
were old-time crafts and entertainment.
Throughout the summer, you could find antique car cruise-ins in
various communities.
As summer waned, the communities of Atlanta, Emden, New
Holland-Middletown and Mount Pulaski launched into fall festivals
and homecomings.
Nearby in Delavan, the annual multiday, end-of-summer celebration
takes place, perfect for its population to enjoy the last warmth of
summer. The festival brings out the whole community at different
times and beckons old acquaintances to come back to visit friends
and family, maybe over one of the famous seasoned, grilled pork chop
sandwiches.
Always, people are ready to step up and help a friend or neighbor
when needed, as evidenced by the tremendous outpouring of compassion
for the Punk O'Donoghue family. Also, there were fundraisers for the
young lad Michael Stauffer in Mount Pulaski. These are but a couple
of those who needed our help, and the community poured out
generously.
Various groups and clubs hosted events and fundraisers: 4-H,
FFA, The Mill, Route 66, Oasis, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, the
new Abraham Lincoln Statue Committee, New Holland-Middletown,
Mount Pulaski, Atlanta, Chestnut-Beason, museums and
genealogical societies, Lincoln Jaycees, Lincoln Kiwanis, Zonta
of Lincoln, Lincoln Lions, Lincoln and Mount Pulaski Rotary
clubs, Lincoln Woman's Club, and many other volunteer
organizations and churches. Additionally, uncountable
individuals who just care serve in community-specific projects
such as the Logan County Food Pantry or offer some other
assistance to those who are struggling. All serve just to make
Logan County a better place to live.
We hope you didn't miss too many of the announcements and events
that these groups provided last year. But if you did, we encourage
you to watch in the day planner box on the Top Stories page each
day. You can also check of our events calendar on the Community page
each week. We don't want you to miss anything you might enjoy next
year.
Also, if you are part of a group, please contact us at
ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com with your information. And, you
can do a self-submission on the calendar so everyone will know about
your event. Thank you in advance for making it easier for us to
share your activity.
We hope that you will be able to get out to enjoy and support the
many activities in our communities that will take place in 2014.
That is also a great way to meet the people in the organizations,
and you may consider becoming a volunteer. There is plenty of room,
and you will meet plenty of wonderful community-minded people.
Below is just a small sample of the events that took place in 2013
and LDN's coverage of them:
4-H spaghetti
dinner fundraiser sees one of its largest turnouts ever
When the community
comes out in support and the community comes together, Lincoln Daily
News is there to make sure those efforts are given the coverage they
deserve.
